A crisis is currently brewing in the Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the exclusion of several party leaders from a meeting scheduled to hold at the residence of the party’s National Leader, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
Among the leaders shut out of the meeting were former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Rowland Owie; one of the founders and financiers of the party in the state, Sunny Aguebor; a national leader of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Douglas Iyike; and others.
It was gathered that Odigie-Oyegun scheduled the meeting at his residence, and when the members arrived, they were shown a list of those invited.
This development left the members infuriated and led them to take over the entrance to Odigie-Oyegun’s compound until a unit of police officers, said to have been sent from the State Command, arrived and spoke with the members, after which they left the place.
Speaking to journalists, Owie called on the National Leadership of the ADC to call Odigie-Oyegun to order.
He said, “We who are here are founding members of the ADC. We are supposed to have a meeting today. Chief John Oyegun, who has done nothing to support the party in this state, is calling non-members to a meeting and excluding statutory members.
“As a matter of fact, the senatorial meeting was to be called up to four or five times. He stopped it and will postpone it. As we are talking, we have been everywhere in this state, especially here in Edo South, where we are raising members for the party. Ask him how many people he has attracted to this party?
“We are telling the national leadership of the party that enough is enough of John Oyegun. This was how he was as the National Chairman of the APC, and he was removed with ease. Enough is enough; he cannot disrespect those who are building the party.”
Contacted, Odigie-Oyegun said he was still in the party’s leadership meeting and would speak on the issues after the meeting.
HE Peter Obi and other top members of ADC came under attack in Edo State where they went to oversee the official defection of Barrister Olumide Akpata and other Labour Party Members
If anything happens to Peter Obi it won’t be funny
Peter Obi and ADC chieftains were attacked by hoodlums with gun as they visited the former governor of Edo state today.
BREAKING
The ADC secretariat in Edo State was attacked by thugs shortly after Peter Obi and Olumide Akpata left the venue where Akpata officially joined the party.
It is alleged that a woman was shot during the incident. She was taken to the hospital.
By then Atiku will be over 90 years, if Obi deputise Atiku, I will work against him, Hamma, you are not different from Hammas terrorist, you are just masquerading as a politician, Atiku boys are his problem, that was how they adviced him to work with Okowa as against Wike.
Atiku has the worst set of betrayals around him. I remember bwala, reno and bruce were all with Atiku in 2023. He has gathered another set like this old fool called hamma who will not even wait for election to finish before he dump Atiku.
Michael Odoh is a politician. He has contested chairmanshipn and councilorship elections in AMAC in the past. He was in the Labour Party and then moved to the ADC. He explains why the ADC lost the elections.
Michael Odoh @michael_od1073
Why ADC Lost the AMAC Election
The recently concluded AMAC election was not lost on election day , it was lost long before then.
From the onset, it was clear that the candidate, Moses Paul, was not adequately prepared for the political realities of the FCT. Abuja politics is deeply local and highly structured. It is not driven by emotions, activism, or social media enthusiasm , it is driven by established networks, ethnic voting patterns, grassroots structures, and long-term strategic planning.
Moses Paul entered the race primarily through the backing of the Obidient bloc, who believed positions should be occupied by individuals seen as loyal to Peter Obi. This decision appeared to be influenced by the perception that the sitting House of Representatives member for AMAC, Hon. Joshua Chinedu Obika, had become “disloyal” because of his association with projects commissioned by Nyesom Wike and his relationship with Abure.
However, elections in AMAC have historically followed identifiable voting patterns. When I moved from LP to ADC to contest for Chairman of AMAC, I was in constant communication with Moses as one of the leaders of the Obidient movement. At no point did he indicate interest in contesting until he suddenly picked up nomination forms.
I personally advised him that the pathway to victory in AMAC required strategic ethnic balancing similar to APC’s successful 2016 formula an alliance reflecting the dominant voting blocs, particularly the Gbagyi and Gwandara communities alongside the Igbo bloc. The incumbent chairman, Maikalangu, already had the Gbagyi base secured. The opposition’s only viable strategy was to recreate a balanced ticket capable of disrupting that structure.
His response was that with Peter Obi campaigning for him, victory was assured.
Unfortunately, politics in AMAC does not work that way. The party leadership, eager to maintain favour with Obi amid coalition negotiations, avoided conducting proper primaries and leaned toward granting Moses the ticket. When I requested a free and fair primary election, it was resisted. Instead of internal democracy, pressure and threats of public backlash were introduced into private discussions. Mo threatened to work against me and the party on twitter if I was given the ticket. I was shocked.
For years, many Igbo stakeholders in FCT had been building toward this election cycle. Structures had been quietly developed since 2022. Community alliances were carefully cultivated. This was seen as a strategic opportunity. However, those long-term efforts were disregarded.
What ultimately happened was not rigging — it was protest voting and structural failure.Hon. Obika, who understands AMAC’s voting terrain deeply, would likely have aligned differently had the ticket reflected strategic balance. Instead, he moved to APC.
Whether one agrees with that move or not, it significantly altered the electoral equation. AMAC politics is council-based and structure-driven. Ignoring that reality was costly.
Campaign management was also deeply flawed. There were complaints from councillorship candidates about lack of inclusion, unilateral decisions, replacement of agents, internal suspicion, and threats of removing duly nominated candidates.
Activism and politics are not the same. Mobilizing crowds for optics is different from mobilizing polling units for votes. Market visits and photo opportunities with national figures do not automatically translate into grassroots electoral strength. Voter apathy in council elections is historically high, and only structured networks bring out reliable voters.
Ethnic arithmetic in AMAC is a political constant. Alienating the two largest voting blocs was what killed ADC. Mo was unpopular.
This was not a stolen election. The margin was too wide to attribute to rigging.
Mo never planned for this election, he took people ideas and felt he could do it, I wish him the best for the future.
Dr Mo was fighting with his councillors, he didn't most involved in his campaign. No deputy. Court case.
He was fighting those who would campaign for him.
Emotions can never win you elections. There was no rigging. Some of these councillorship candidates are ready to speak out.
Let me start from the candidate in Garki ward that Mo kept fighting and wanted to change him. The case is at the court of appeal ..or the Kabusa Ward candidate. People bought form and won primaries, Mo wanted to change them to put obidients people...no regard for the rule of law.. ...He was running a one man show because he believes that everybody loves Obi and will vote for him .....
Leave emotions and be strategic. Gbayis and Hausas already had PDP and APC covered. ADC next option was Igbo and gwandara....but Mo spoilt everything, he has no business with that ticket ....I hope lessons have been learnt
Some ADC members pointed out that the ADC had two separate situation rooms for the election. The ADC Headquarters created a situation room and the Obidient Movement created another situation room for Dr Mo. They say that this is a sign that the Obidients did not carry others along in the AMAC elections.
Hamma Ahmed Hayatu is a major supporter of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. On Saturday and Sunday he gave reasons why the ADC lost the elections and how it can improve. Obidients spent the whole of Sunday attacking him. Hamma returned fire on Monday.
Hamma @HAHayatu
"There are 2,822 polling units in the Federal Capital Territory. ADC lost in 2,814 polling units and won in only 8"
If the above statement does not wake up the ADC nothing will, those that hijacked the party in the FCT killed the party in the FCT.
The party's direction is too risky and dangerous, given the party's refusal to tell Peter Obi the truth about his supporters, I see the party collapsing after the primaries.
You're right most annoying now despite all the calibre of people in the party they keep petting Peter Obi as if he is the beautiful bride, when he is actually empty.
If you are wise, as a politician now is the Best time to leave the ADC and make peace with APC..
ADC is already destined to fail, since their formation, they’ve not been able to get anything thing right. Associating with such failures is at the detriment of your political career 🤝👌
Why this hate Hamma? Is it because Obi don’t want to VP to Atiku anymore? No politician in northern Nigeria is more qualified than OBI, if Obi were to come from northern Nigeria by now you will be worshipping him just the way you all worship Buhari in blessed memory
Some members of the ADC have been examining the party's performance in the recent area council elections in Abuja. They have proferred many reasons for the party's failure in the elections. Some say there was improper planning, others say that the Obidient bloc took over certain campaigns, like the AMAC election campaign, without carrying others along, etc.
The Obidients say that the other blocs within the party wanted them to fail and that's why they are blaming them. They said that the other blocs wanted Dr Mo to lose the AMAC election.
This has led to war within the ADC.
Theo Abu and Emma IK. Imeh were members of the PDP. They have moved to the ADC, although they have also expressed disillusionment with the opposition.
Theo Abu @TheoAbuAgada
They have removed @emmaikumeh and me from the ADC Media Strategy Group.
This is actually on Emma. He begged and asked me to give these people a chance.
To think I was still defending these people up until a fortnight ago.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT was joined by Vice President Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM in hosting State Governors for Iftar—the traditional breaking of fast during the holy month of Ramadan—at the State House Banquet Hall on Monday evening.
Tonight, I hosted our State Governors to an interfaith breaking of the fast as Muslims observe Ramadan and Christians journey through Lent.
In this sacred season for two of the major faiths in our dear country, we are reminded that beyond politics and policy, we are first a people of conscience.
I commended the Governors for their efforts so far and for the various outreaches they have carried out this holy month. But I also challenged them to do more.
To reach the young man who feels forgotten. To lift the woman who carries her family on tired shoulders. To touch the communities at the grassroots where hope sometimes flickers.
Development must not recognise religion. Compassion must not recognise tribe. Opportunity must not recognise status.
I am determined to rescue this country. And as long as we work together in delivering hope to our citizens, the best is yet to come for Nigeria.
What I promised Nigerians will not be postponed.
Security is the foundation of prosperity. Without it, farms cannot flourish, businesses cannot grow, and families cannot sleep in peace.
We will establish state police to curb insecurity.
This is not about politics. It is about practicality. It is about empowering states with the tools to protect their people while strengthening our national framework.
We must be bold enough to reform what is not working. We must be united enough to protect what we hold dear.
Nigeria will be safer. Nigeria will be stronger. And together, we must commit to making it so.
Nigeria First.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Politics › Re: Crisis Brews In Edo ADC, Owie, Others Shut Out Of Meeting by naptu2(op): 5:40am On Feb 25
